West Hartford Approves 2.5 Percent Tax Increase

WEST HARTFORD — The town council has approved a $257.5 million budget for 2015-16 that includes a 2.5 percent tax increase.

Overall spending increases 2.5 percent, or $6.2 million, over the current fiscal year, and includes $148.37 million for schools, $94 million for the town and $15.12 million for debt service.

Town Manager Ron Van Winkle said the tax increase is "certainly in line" with recent years, so "I think we're in good shape right now."

The final budget is a $2.8 million reduction from Van Winkle's initial proposal. The tax rate will increase from 37.37 to 38.31 mils.

Chief Financial Officer Peter Privitera said reductions were achieved in several areas, including use of $140,000 in tax overpayments, reductions in electricity costs in both the town and board of education portion of the budget, and a plan to fund about $815,000 in capital expenditures with an anticipated year-end surplus.

The budget was approved along party lines with the council's six Democrats voting in favor and the three Republicans opposed.

Republican Minority Leader Denise Hall blamed unfunded state mandates, a chronic shortfall in state educational cost-sharing grants, the prevailing wage and "most importantly" public employee unions for preventing the council from trimming the budget further.

"Ultimately my no vote may be symbolic, but it stems from the fact that I have no control over the major drivers of this budget," Hall said.

Republican Chris Barnes also noted public employee benefits as a major reason why this year's spending plan is another "maintenance budget."

But Democrats praised the budget approval process and highlighted West Hartford's economic strength.

"For the things that we do control, we have done nothing short of a remarkable job," Democrat Clare Kindall said.

Shari Cantor, a Democrat and chairman of the budget and finance committee, highlighted the town's AAA bond rating and strong development environment.

Democrat Harry Captain pointed out that Republicans on the board of education also cast symbolic no votes against the budget in an effort to lobby legislators for more state funding.

"The board vote didn't get anybody's attention, and a no vote based on trying to get their attention isn't going to do it," Captain said. "What we have control over and a responsibility over is passing a budget to run this great town."

Mayor and Democrat Scott Slifka said council members can talk about, "if only this, if only that," at the state level, but "we have to deal with it in the world we live in ... so we do the best we can under the present circumstances."

Democrat Leon Davidoff said he hasn't received any suggestions from residents on the budget, but he didn't see that as a bad thing.

"We pride ourselves on a community that likes to be engaged when necessary ... I think this year the public has placed their trust in the nine of us," Davidoff said. "In my opinion, West Hartford's brightest days lie ahead."